Conveyer service tray for operating tables



April 24, 1951 w. J. soPER CONVEYER SERVICE TRAY FOR bPERATING TABLES Filed April 18, 1947 IN V EN TOR. Wnum J. Saran Patented Apr. 24, 1951 CONVEYER SERVICE TRAY FOR OPERATING TABLES William J. Soper, Kingston, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. 742,321

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an attachment for operating tables used by physicians and surgeons and in particular to provide an arm rest for the patient being operated on in any position on the horizontal level, the same being on a level with the table mat, so that the anesthetist can check the blood pressure, give intravenous anesthesia, infusions, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a work tray and support for the same, which can be mounted on a standard operating table, and which will permit the tray to swing to any position for service use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for advancing the position of the service units or tools on the tray, so that they may be used in the sequence established by the steps required to complete an operation or any phase of it.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an operating table equipped with the attachment.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the operating table but with the attachment except for the base removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the service tray and its supporting bracket arm partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the tray and a pivot clamp therefor.

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation, partly in section, of another modified form of the tray, showing a tool or work conveyer.

Fig. 6 is, a plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a partial plan View of an operating table provided with a sliding tray constructed in accordance with another modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the sliding block and stems of the tray shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail bottom plan view, partly in section, of the spring lock for holding the tray pivot in place in the modification shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the practical embodiments of the invention, l0 designates a conventional operating table on which a physical or surgical inspection, or any suitable operation may be made. On this table, a base II is attached as by the screws l2, and this base is formed with an upstanding integral socket 13, which is shown to be square in shape.

In the socket i3, a stem i i, of corresponding shape and size, is placed, and the vertical position of the stem it may be adjusted by means of a set screw I5, which is threaded through the wall of the socket l3. The stem [4 is integral with a service tray bracket 16, so that the bracket will not turn on the stem but will be held in fixed relation to the stem and to the socket l3 and the table which supports it.

The stem I4 is located at one end of the bracket i6 and this bracket is provided with a round socket or bearing hole H at the opposite end thereof. The socket or hearing hole I? receives the pivot pin it of the service tray l9, which may be made of aluminum, plastic, or any other material which is resistant to corrosion.

The service tray 19 has an end guard flange 20, side guard flanges 2| and 22, and one end thereof is devoid of any flange. The pivot pin I8 is located at one end of the service tray, and supports the service tray in an approximately horizontal position, for free turning in all directions to bring the units or tools supported by the service tray into the best working relation to the surgeon or physician engaged in the operation, or the assistant who is cooperating in aiding the surgeon or physician.

To restrict the free pivotal movement of the service tray, the pivot pin thereof, as shown at 23 in Fig. 4, may be screw threaded and a nut 24 may be adjusted thereon, so that the frictional resistance to turning may be varied at will.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a service tray 25 is shown which has a roller '26 mounted to turn on one end thereof, and a roller 2'1 mounted to turn on the opposite end thereof. On these rollers, an endless belt or conveyer 28 is arranged to travel, with one run above the tray and the other run below the tray. This belt or conveyer 28 is provided with transverse cleats 29 which tend to separate articles, tools or service units placed on the conveyer from each other and to prevent slipping on theconveyer.

Each of the rollers 25 and 21' is provided with a knob 39, so that by turning the knob the conveyer 28 may be advanced. The conveyer may also be advanced by placing the hand on the upper run of the conveyer and pushing the run in the direction desired.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a modified form of the attachment is shown, which includes a horizontal bar 3|, mounted on the operating table l0, as by the side arms 32 and 33. On this bar 3|, which is approximately square or rectangular, a block 34 is mounted to move horizontally, and for this purpose is constructed with a vertical slot 35 which receives the body of the bar 3|. The sliding block 34 is held against vertical displacement by means of the roller 36, which engages the bottom side of the bar 3|, and turns on the cross shaft 31 mounted on the block 34.

The sliding block 34 is formed with a rectangular vertical socket 38, which receives a Vertical stem 39 of a bracket 40. On the end of this bracket 49, the service tray 4! is mounted to turn by means of its pivot post 42, which extends through a hole in the bracket 40.

This construction permits the service tray to be shifted from one side of the operating table to the other, and if the supporting bar 3! is secured lengthwise of the table, the service tray can then be shifted from one end to the other end of the operating table.

In order to prevent the accidental displacement of the service tray 4| from the bracket 40, the pivot 42 is formed with a circumscribing groove 42 which is engaged by a spring latch finger or arm 42*, which is attached to the bracket 40.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a service tray, a flat tray member, a depending pin supported from said tray member, parallel side walls extended along the sides of said tray member and having their free ends projected beyond the ends of said tray member and formed with aligned holes, rollers extended between said ends of said side walls, said rollers being formed with trunnions engaging said holes of said side walls, said holes of said side walls being located on a plane common with said tray member so that said rollers will be rotatively supported on a plane common with said tray member, a continuous belt engaged over said rollers with one run traversing the top face of said tray member and with one run traversing the bottom face of said tray member, said trunnions at one of their ends being extended beyond the respective side wall, knobs mounted on the extended ends of said trunnions by which either roller can be turned in one direction or the other to similarly move said belt with relation to said tray member, and spaced cleats extended transversely across the exposed face of said continuous belt.

WILLIAM J. SOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 519,630 Hogg May 8, 1894 995,114 Clark et a1 June 13, 1911 1,007,590 Miller Oct. 31, 1911 1,239,146 Wantz Sept. 4, 1917 1,700,834 Farr Feb. 5, 1929 1,797,847 Vandagrifi Mar. 24, 1931 1,801,637 Nichols Apr. 21, 1931 1,836,511 Severns Dec. 15, 1931 2,051,712 Holt Aug. 18, 1936 2,072,009 Moore Feb. 23, 1937 2,193,647 Rush et al Mar. 12, 1940 2,211,648 Currie Aug. 13, 1940 2,241,082 Dabelstein May 6, 1941 2,317,438 Bradley Apr. 27, 1943 2,400,667 Toews May 21, 1946 

